An Altoona man, caught in the gears of the war on drugs, is facing a 46-month prison sentence for his role in a local methamphetamine trafficking operation. The Justice Department announced that 67-year-old Andrew Stowell was sentenced by United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines after being convicted of violating federal narcotics laws.
The sentencing comes on the heels of a half-year Title III wiretap investigation, which unveiled a significant drug trafficking web spread across multiple Pennsylvania counties. Stowell, according to court documents, was entrenched within an Altoona-based drug trafficking organization (DTO). On December 12, 2022, he sold a quarter-pound of methamphetamine, directly to an undercover officer, a move which ultimately contributed to his downfall.
Law enforcement, coordinated by various agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, proved too substantial for the DTO to withstand. This case was part of an extensive Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty, who prosecuted the case against Stowell, could not be reached for comment. Still, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti extended commendations to all agencies involved.
